to put someone, orallowsomeone to be put, into a veryunpleasantordifficultsituationwithouthelpingthem,especiallyas a way ofprotectingyourself:
Heaccusedhisformercolleaguesofthrowinghim to thelions.
In myopinion, he wasthrownto thelionsbefore being given thechancetoexplainhimself.
IthoughtI had beenfedto thelionsbut manywitnessescameforwardtodefendme.